Having recently completed the cross-country journey with Big Boy (N793D) from Longview/Tyler, Texas to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania via Dayton, Ohio, I found myself back in familiar territory. My time in Dayton was consumed with rigorous training sessions, yet I had not yet ventured up in the airplane alone. Throughout our journey from Texas, there was always a companion by my side. Now, I yearned to reconnect with my old haunts—the local airports. I charted a route from Wings Field to Lancaster Airport (LOM-LNS), then from Lancaster to Northeast Philadelphia Airport (LNS-PNE), and back to Wings.

Both Lancaster and Northeast Philadelphia are Class D airports with control towers. During our return trip from Texas, our interactions with control towers had been minimal. As I prepared for this solo venture, I felt the odd stirrings of anxiety. This sense of unease surpassed even my first solo flights all those years ago. This time, it was my airplane—a considerable responsibility—and for this flight, there was no extra layer of oversight.

The journey served as a poignant reminder of the importance of staying ahead of the airplane. As I approached Lancaster, I realized I was lagging behind the aircraft. The airport buzzed with activity, and I struggled to synchronize with the other pilots in the pattern. When tower had me line up with the runway, I discovered I was too high and too fast. For a fleeting moment, I thought, ‘I can make it.’ Then, a small voice within urged, ‘Go around.’ Trusting this intuition, I added throttle, retracted the gear, and executed a go-around. While it may not have pleased the tower on a busy Sunday afternoon, the decision reinforced a crucial lesson: as pilot-in-command, the ultimate authority rests with me—a truth I learned long ago in flight school and a truth I will always hold dear.

After landing, I took a moment to park and catch my breath, allowing my nerves to settle. Regaining my composure, I resumed my journey to KPNE. The remainder of the flight was smooth, featuring a controlled and graceful approach that culminated in a satisfying landing. Though no photos were captured on this flight, I look forward to documenting my next adventure.